Deadline over and Animation complete!
If any wishes to view the finished product, please click the link below.
https://vimeo.com/55492592
Friday 14 December 2012
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Main Project Deadline
It is rolling up to my deadline for my main project. The 14th of December is the day it shall all be in for and I'm quite pleased to say that I believe I shall succeed in handing everything in.
My project was as followers:
The Betty Smithers Design Collection
During your visit to the Betty Smithers Design Collection, you will see a number of objects from which you will be expected to select one or a small group to base your short film on. You will be expected to sketch, photograph and document these objects and to start planning on how you wish to incorporate them into your work.
This and all other supporting development work must be evidenced in a bond 'presentation' file and submitted along with the other assessment criteria.
The Betty Smithers Design Collection
You may choose either drawn, CGI or Stop Motion animation to realise your final piece. The finished work should be of a high standard, suitable for public viewing on the Betty Smithers Collection website and Animation Department show reel.
Structure:
When thinking about your film there needs to be a little bit of a story structure to allow your character(s) to be believable.
There needs to be a beginning, a middle and an end.
The Beginning: It's important to set a clear goal.
The Middle: Establish an obstacle that your character(s) encounter. This is something which hinders or complicates the reaching of the initial goal set-up in 'the beginning'. This may be physical or mental.
The End: Your audience needs to have a satisfying resolution to the film. The obstacle is overcome and the goal is reached or achieved.
Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it clear.
I believe I've near enough completed what my project set for me. Upon visiting the collection I viewed one shelf in particular, the shelf with the cameras, typewriters, computers and other such old-to-new devices. Unfortunately the cameras were kept within boxes and I was in no fit state at the time to carefully take them down and examine them, so I set aside a hopeful date to come back and view them another time. However, once I was able, the Collection was missing it's keeper and therefore I looked within my own room to gather what items I wanted.
My original idea came very swiftly when I was in the Collection and it revolved around cameras. I had been on a Photography course prior and so my interest for them was, and still is, quite strong. I knew that I wanted to use cameras and a selection of them, ranging from old to new.
Once I had found and gathered three cameras from my possessions I set about thinking up a suitable and simple story for them. My story was, as the project said, short and simple, and was the only clear idea I could come up with at the time. I explained my idea to my tutor and once he agreed that it was a good plan of action, I set about creating a storyboard for it - which later I would make an animatic with.
My story:
The Beginning: Old film camera is on a shelf at the Collection. It wakes, looks around in surprise and intrigue, and shuffles backwards on the shelf as it does so. The goal here is to find out where it is and with what company it keeps - though the Collection has a whole range of items in store, I am only going to show a small part of it, with just three cameras.
The Middle: The old film camera, not paying attention to where it is going, bumps into another camera, this one a digital compact camera. Upon being jolted it wakes, it's flash going off at the same time, showing it's shock at the intrusion. The two cameras turn to look at each other in since - the encounter is not really an obstacle, but it was one for a short time. It hinders the main goal somewhat by 'distracting' the old film camera from it's first mission of looking around.
The End: As the two stare at each other, a long lens slowly lengthens and comes into view behind one of them (the digital compact). They both turn to see another camera, this one a DSLR with a long lens, which as been awakened or attracted by the noise and movements from the other two. They all stare at one another and then all turn towards the viewer with a banner above them exclaiming that they are in the "Betty Smithers Collection"
My idea and story was fairly basic, but after presenting it to the class and receiving feedback from my tutors, I had full confidence to carry it out.
I chose to do the Animation in Stop Motion for two reasons:
Firstly, I knew that I was going to be looking into 3D animation more than anything and so I thought it prudent to try out Stop Motion for a challenge and change of pace/skills.
Secondly, I thought it would best suit my idea. I had the items to use and knew how I wanted them to move.
I wanted no dialogue with my animation but I still needed and wanted sound. I had seen many animations where there was no words, the story told merely by the animation itself and the soundtrack/sound effects. This is what I wanted to achieve.
As I created my storyboard I was made to look closer into the position of the camera the viewer shall be looking through to perceive my animation. I already imagined, automatically, that the camera would pan across or zoom in and out, sweeping over characters etc but once I drawn out my storyboard, I tried to simplify it as best as I could. I knew that I would not be able to create everything I hoped for, I had neither the time nor skills to do all that I wanted.
My inspirations into this were as follows:
PIN - an animated short that a friend sent in my direction. It can be found on Vimeo by Elise Fachon
https://vimeo.com/35321187
This was very inspiring because of how much character and life that had been put into the pins, creating the illusion of life. There was also no real dialogue in this animation either, only sounds and noises made up by the pins, their own language. I hope I can put enough time and depth into my characters.
Knick Knack - an animated short by Pixar
This was a favourite short of mine and when it was brought up by a tutor, I obviously sort it out again with pleasure. If I had taken the 3D route, this would be what I would want my animation to be like. Quirky, sweet and simple. Again, this had no dialogue, only music/sound effects, expressions and movements.
Teclopolis - an animated short that was shown to me by my tutor. It can be found on Youtube by Javier Mrad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4YPDh8_Myw
When this was shown to me in class I fell in love with it straight away. The idea is surreal with an almost never-ending depth to it. You could take this animation several different ways, connect it to many opinions by many people and connect with it. Some may see it as a show of how much technology has come and how fast, destroying things as it goes, while others may just see it as an interesting animation that plays on perception, metaphors, and artistic talent. Once again, this has no dialogue, leaving the viewer to make up his or her mind on what can be said about and during the animation. It's fantastic.
As I, myself, began work on my Stop Motion scenes (first testing shots, seeing how many frames and why, and what I actually need to do to achieve certain things) I noticed that my story would have to change. I did not have the time nor the resources to do exactly what I had first dreamt up and therefore I had to do away with a few things. Nothing major, though I was saddened to cut my imagination and idea short. Not knowing the best way to use a Stop Motion rig and have a sweeping, panning or zooming view of things, I settled for jump cuts. These still did the same job, though not as fluidly as I would have wanted.
I also changed a few scenes, choosing instead to start the animation off with the old film camera being placed down onto the shelf, to show that it was new to the area. I used my own arm, and though it was a struggle to get it down alone, I succeeded and was pleased with both the test shot and the actual shot.
(See my test shots here: https://vimeo.com/55362499 )
Another thing that I changed was when the film camera bumps into the digital camera, before, I had the digital camera wake up as soon as it is hit, but after doing a test shot where I had the film camera circle the digital camera suspiciously, I liked that better and altered it to such.
Slowly but surely, with the help of a close friend and classmate (whom made me a shelf in which to use as my set) I got through my animation in one day, able to quickly have something rather than nothing in which to look at and edit.
The editing process was a long one, with many technical difficulties along the way. Now though, I can happily say that I believe I have finished my animation. Tonight, before writing this, I spent a few hours collecting, creating and editing sound effects onto my animation.
The only thing I have left to do now is make sure all my work is neatly presentable in a folder, ready to hand in on Friday.
Wish me luck!
My project was as followers:
The Betty Smithers Design Collection
During your visit to the Betty Smithers Design Collection, you will see a number of objects from which you will be expected to select one or a small group to base your short film on. You will be expected to sketch, photograph and document these objects and to start planning on how you wish to incorporate them into your work.
This and all other supporting development work must be evidenced in a bond 'presentation' file and submitted along with the other assessment criteria.
The Betty Smithers Design Collection
You may choose either drawn, CGI or Stop Motion animation to realise your final piece. The finished work should be of a high standard, suitable for public viewing on the Betty Smithers Collection website and Animation Department show reel.
Structure:
When thinking about your film there needs to be a little bit of a story structure to allow your character(s) to be believable.
There needs to be a beginning, a middle and an end.
The Beginning: It's important to set a clear goal.
The Middle: Establish an obstacle that your character(s) encounter. This is something which hinders or complicates the reaching of the initial goal set-up in 'the beginning'. This may be physical or mental.
The End: Your audience needs to have a satisfying resolution to the film. The obstacle is overcome and the goal is reached or achieved.
Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it clear.
I believe I've near enough completed what my project set for me. Upon visiting the collection I viewed one shelf in particular, the shelf with the cameras, typewriters, computers and other such old-to-new devices. Unfortunately the cameras were kept within boxes and I was in no fit state at the time to carefully take them down and examine them, so I set aside a hopeful date to come back and view them another time. However, once I was able, the Collection was missing it's keeper and therefore I looked within my own room to gather what items I wanted.
My original idea came very swiftly when I was in the Collection and it revolved around cameras. I had been on a Photography course prior and so my interest for them was, and still is, quite strong. I knew that I wanted to use cameras and a selection of them, ranging from old to new.
Once I had found and gathered three cameras from my possessions I set about thinking up a suitable and simple story for them. My story was, as the project said, short and simple, and was the only clear idea I could come up with at the time. I explained my idea to my tutor and once he agreed that it was a good plan of action, I set about creating a storyboard for it - which later I would make an animatic with.
My story:
The Beginning: Old film camera is on a shelf at the Collection. It wakes, looks around in surprise and intrigue, and shuffles backwards on the shelf as it does so. The goal here is to find out where it is and with what company it keeps - though the Collection has a whole range of items in store, I am only going to show a small part of it, with just three cameras.
The Middle: The old film camera, not paying attention to where it is going, bumps into another camera, this one a digital compact camera. Upon being jolted it wakes, it's flash going off at the same time, showing it's shock at the intrusion. The two cameras turn to look at each other in since - the encounter is not really an obstacle, but it was one for a short time. It hinders the main goal somewhat by 'distracting' the old film camera from it's first mission of looking around.
The End: As the two stare at each other, a long lens slowly lengthens and comes into view behind one of them (the digital compact). They both turn to see another camera, this one a DSLR with a long lens, which as been awakened or attracted by the noise and movements from the other two. They all stare at one another and then all turn towards the viewer with a banner above them exclaiming that they are in the "Betty Smithers Collection"
My idea and story was fairly basic, but after presenting it to the class and receiving feedback from my tutors, I had full confidence to carry it out.
I chose to do the Animation in Stop Motion for two reasons:
Firstly, I knew that I was going to be looking into 3D animation more than anything and so I thought it prudent to try out Stop Motion for a challenge and change of pace/skills.
Secondly, I thought it would best suit my idea. I had the items to use and knew how I wanted them to move.
I wanted no dialogue with my animation but I still needed and wanted sound. I had seen many animations where there was no words, the story told merely by the animation itself and the soundtrack/sound effects. This is what I wanted to achieve.
As I created my storyboard I was made to look closer into the position of the camera the viewer shall be looking through to perceive my animation. I already imagined, automatically, that the camera would pan across or zoom in and out, sweeping over characters etc but once I drawn out my storyboard, I tried to simplify it as best as I could. I knew that I would not be able to create everything I hoped for, I had neither the time nor skills to do all that I wanted.
My inspirations into this were as follows:
PIN - an animated short that a friend sent in my direction. It can be found on Vimeo by Elise Fachon
https://vimeo.com/35321187
This was very inspiring because of how much character and life that had been put into the pins, creating the illusion of life. There was also no real dialogue in this animation either, only sounds and noises made up by the pins, their own language. I hope I can put enough time and depth into my characters.
Knick Knack - an animated short by Pixar
This was a favourite short of mine and when it was brought up by a tutor, I obviously sort it out again with pleasure. If I had taken the 3D route, this would be what I would want my animation to be like. Quirky, sweet and simple. Again, this had no dialogue, only music/sound effects, expressions and movements.
Teclopolis - an animated short that was shown to me by my tutor. It can be found on Youtube by Javier Mrad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4YPDh8_Myw
When this was shown to me in class I fell in love with it straight away. The idea is surreal with an almost never-ending depth to it. You could take this animation several different ways, connect it to many opinions by many people and connect with it. Some may see it as a show of how much technology has come and how fast, destroying things as it goes, while others may just see it as an interesting animation that plays on perception, metaphors, and artistic talent. Once again, this has no dialogue, leaving the viewer to make up his or her mind on what can be said about and during the animation. It's fantastic.
As I, myself, began work on my Stop Motion scenes (first testing shots, seeing how many frames and why, and what I actually need to do to achieve certain things) I noticed that my story would have to change. I did not have the time nor the resources to do exactly what I had first dreamt up and therefore I had to do away with a few things. Nothing major, though I was saddened to cut my imagination and idea short. Not knowing the best way to use a Stop Motion rig and have a sweeping, panning or zooming view of things, I settled for jump cuts. These still did the same job, though not as fluidly as I would have wanted.
I also changed a few scenes, choosing instead to start the animation off with the old film camera being placed down onto the shelf, to show that it was new to the area. I used my own arm, and though it was a struggle to get it down alone, I succeeded and was pleased with both the test shot and the actual shot.
(See my test shots here: https://vimeo.com/55362499 )
Another thing that I changed was when the film camera bumps into the digital camera, before, I had the digital camera wake up as soon as it is hit, but after doing a test shot where I had the film camera circle the digital camera suspiciously, I liked that better and altered it to such.
Slowly but surely, with the help of a close friend and classmate (whom made me a shelf in which to use as my set) I got through my animation in one day, able to quickly have something rather than nothing in which to look at and edit.
The editing process was a long one, with many technical difficulties along the way. Now though, I can happily say that I believe I have finished my animation. Tonight, before writing this, I spent a few hours collecting, creating and editing sound effects onto my animation.
The only thing I have left to do now is make sure all my work is neatly presentable in a folder, ready to hand in on Friday.
Wish me luck!
Sunday 2 December 2012
Life Drawing
Life Drawing is one of my passions and something I hope to continue during my time at University.
If you are interested in seeing my progression and what types of tasks I was set in the lessons, please follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemmabirks/
If you are interested in seeing my progression and what types of tasks I was set in the lessons, please follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemmabirks/
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